Joseph Finlay
@josephfinlay.bsky.social
1.9K followers 440 following 880 posts
Historian of British Jews and race relations. Composer and Musical Director. Socialist and דאָיִקער
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josephfinlay.bsky.social
As with all ideologies, if people and institutions claim to uphold it then it exists
josephfinlay.bsky.social
Expressing worry is not the same as blaming. And we underestimate the diaspora’s power. Clear statements from major orgs that any return to war/failure to fully withdraw is unacceptable would have an impact on Israel. And if not it would encourage our own gvts to be tougher on Israel eg. sanctions.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
I fear that diaspora Jewish communal statements welcoming the deal that frame it purely in terms of bringing home the hostages make it more likely that the Israeli government will resume the war (or at least never fully withdraw from Gaza) once the hostages are freed.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
How about the Jewish Chronicle?
It is hard to describe an organisation which has done more to damage interfaith cohesion between Jews and Muslims in this country than 5 Pillars
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
josephfinlay.bsky.social
The deal is a huge relief. But it could have been made 2 years ago on the same terms. Netanyahu promised that he would defeat and destroy Hamas. Instead he signed a deal with them. So many killed for the impossible promise of total
victory and ‘permanent security’.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
I wrote a piece about the Manchester attack, on why the British state bears a degree of responsibility and how Jews and Muslim communities would be safer if they provided security for each other.

josephfinlay.com/weareeachoth...
We Are Each Other’s Security - Joseph Finlay
British Jews should reject the British state’s philosemitic embrace in the wake of the terrible Manchester synagogue attack.
josephfinlay.com
josephfinlay.bsky.social
There should be no doubt that Robert Jenrick is a racist. His disgraceful Birmingham comments would have seen him sacked by previous Tory leaders. It wasn't much noticed but this video from May is full of Judeo-Bolshevik tropes about Attorney General Ricard Hermer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE0P...
Jenrick's EXPLOSIVE takedown of Starmer's Attorney General for "defending Britain's enemies"
YouTube video by Daily Express
www.youtube.com
josephfinlay.bsky.social
But they were attempting to reach Palestine’s waters. A state which you have just recognised.
adambienkov.bsky.social
Keir Starmer’s spokesman asked about Israel detaining British citizens who were on the Gaza aid flotilla, while in international waters, replies that it is a “matter for the Israeli Government”
josephfinlay.bsky.social
The more I think about it the clearer it is: if you say that anti-genocide protests should be called off because of British Jewish sensibilities you are saying that British Jews support genocide. It’s disgraceful and it’s the kind of conflationist discourse that laid the ground for this attack.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
Since it's emerged that one of the victims in Manchester died from a police bullet it's clear that the existence of armed police in Britain is part of this story.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
British Jews are tired. Quite literally tired after 25 hours of fasting and intensive prayers. So please don’t expect quick and thoughtful takes on the Manchester synagogue attack from us. Give us a few days.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
If an international protectorate is such a great idea for Gaza why not apply it to the whole land between the river and the sea? Call it the Mandate 2.0.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
Longstanding rule of British politics: being racist is normal and understandable, calling someone else a racist is completely unacceptable.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
Is there a Labour Party accent? You don’t get anywhere in the party without that nasal twang
josephfinlay.bsky.social
I don’t think Hamas has much to gain from agreeing to this plan. There seems to be no full IDF withdrawal from Gaza promised which is a major red line. And Gaza is already destroyed. On the other hand, Israel needs a deal imminently; it is facing major international isolation and sanctions.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
The most notable thing about this plan is that clearly no Palestinians were consulted. It continues the longstanding tendency to assume the Palestinian people don’t exist, that they are generic ‘Arabs’ who should be happy to live anywhere and accept whatever crumbs the west throws them.
josephfinlay.bsky.social
Given that the plan is an incoherent mess with diverse and even contradictory parts the smart move is for each side to accept it and simply emphasise the parts that they like and play down the rest. It’s unlikely to be implemented in full anyway.